Parking ticket backflip win
CITY council has backflipped on a controversial parking rule which a local councillor said never should have been enforced in the first place.
In July, the Bulletin revealed Gold Coast City Council parking inspectors had cracked down on verge parking at Worongary’s Pioneer Downs Park.
But residents claimed it was putting lives at risk by forcing motorists to park cars and unload horse floats on the adjacent road because there were no designated car parks in the area.
Since then, the council has installed new signs at Pioneer Downs to allow verge parking.
Resident Nick Flanagan – who first highlighted his disapproval – said it was a good result for the community.
“Since the Gold Coast Bulletin story, the local councillor Glenn Tozer got involved and spoke to the powers that be to put some commonsense into the local traffic management,” Mr Flanagan said.
“It’s taking the vehicles off the streets and safely parking them on the verge where not only horses can unload safely, but also parents of small children.”
Cr Tozer said verge parking at Pioneer Downs had been a common practice for many years.
“It would be fair to say that my personal views as councillor were probably at odds with the parking team on this issue,” he said.
“These now delivered signs mean residents who use Pioneer Downs for equine activity can now have confidence that verge parking is permitted in the relevant area.
“I met with council officers on site recently and we investigated more permanent options that might further improve the formality of that parking on the verge area, as well as discussed the playground, other park uses and families of kangaroos in the area.”
Parking on nature strips or verges is not permitted under section 197 of the Transport Operations Regulation 2009.